Traffic Delineator with Signaling Device

ABSTRACT

A delineator includes a signaling device module for use on a portable delineator for use on roadways or the like. The module includes a signal producing member such as a light or reflector and a housing for supporting the signal producing member. The housing has an exterior surface and defines an interior cavity. The interior cavity can house a portable power source, such as a battery or photovoltaic cell for the light if required. The module further includes a retainer secured to the housing, the retainer including a connecting leg and a retaining leg. The retainer can move from a first position in close proximity to or in contact with the exterior surface of the housing to a second position away from the exterior surface of the housing so that when the retainer is disposed in the second position, a length of material, such as flexible tape, can be placed between the retaining leg of the retainer and the exterior surface of the housing. When the retainer is in the first position, the material is captively held between the exterior surface of the housing and the retaining leg. The retainer cooperates with one or more other retainers on one or more other portable delineators to form a continuous physical border between the delineators when the material is disposed in the retainers from one delineator to the next.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

This description relates to a traffic delineator or a road marker whichcan be placed temporarily upon a road for directing traffic or placedupon the ground for marking off areas. This road marker includes asignaling device that removably secures a length of flexible materialthereon.

2. Description of the Related Art

Road markers, also known as traffic delineators or road barrels, areconventionally used along roads and other geographic areas for visuallymarking the areas. For example, in construction zones along a road,markers are positioned for visually guiding vehicle drivers for passagearound marked-off areas. Other examples are the placement of markers atgeographical areas for guiding the parking of vehicles or fortemporarily blocking off areas to vehicles or people.

One conventional road marker comprises a barrel which may be formed of aplastic material. Such barrels are typically brightly colored, generallysafety orange, or include reflective tape so that they are readilyvisible. A large number of such barrels may be aligned on a highway tomark off of a lane of highway, that is, to guide vehicles around themarked off lane or other portion of the highway during constructionwork. Other types of road markers, such as so-called horses orbarricades made of inverted, spaced apart V-shaped ends between which anelongated board is positioned, are used to block off an area, as forexample, a parade route or other gathering, which is temporarily offlimits to the public. A third type of road marker is described in U.S.Pat. No. 6,149,339 in which the road marker includes a pair ofinterconnected panels that may be arranged upright, transversely to eachother which can be manually folded into a flat position in which thepanels overlap and are generally parallel.

It is common to mount upon the upper ends of the road markers batteryoperated lights or types of similar attention getting devices such asreflectors. It is also common to align several road markers and tostring a flexible tape member from one road marker to the next toestablish a boundary. This is typically accomplished by simply wrappingthe flexible tape around the lights or reflectors and moving to the nextmarker and wrapping the tape around its light or reflector and so on. Indoing this, an effective border can be formed. However, such wrapping isunsightly and is difficult to unwrap once the need for the boundary hasended. An operator will typically just cut or break the tape instead ofremoving it from the marker, leaving residual lengths of the tape on themarkers.

It would be advantageous if the tape used to create the border orboundary could be easily secured to the markers and easily removed fromthe markers.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present description includes a signaling devicemodule for use on a portable delineator for use on roadways or the like.The module includes a signal producing member such as a light orreflector and a housing for supporting the signal producing member. Thehousing has an exterior surface and defines an interior cavity. Theinterior cavity can house a portable power source, such as a battery orphotovoltaic cell for the light if required. The module further includesa retainer secured to the housing, the retainer including a connectingleg and a retaining leg. The retainer can move from a first position inclose proximity to or in contact with the exterior surface of thehousing to a second position away from the exterior surface of thehousing so that when the retainer is disposed in the second position, alength of material, such as flexible tape, can be placed between theretaining leg of the retainer and the exterior surface of the housing.When the retainer is in the first position, the material is captivelyheld between the exterior surface of the housing and the retaining leg.The retainer cooperates with one or more other retainers on one or moreother portable delineators to form a continuous physical border betweenthe delineators when the material is disposed in the retainers from onedelineator to the next.

In another embodiment of the present description, the retainer is formedfrom a synthetic polymeric material integrally with the housing andincludes one or more retaining barbs that captively and releaseablyengage the material in the retainer. In this embodiment, the connectingleg of the retainer forms a living hinge between the retaining leg andan exterior surface of the housing.

An advantage of this description is that a relatively inexpensive lightmodule can hold and easily release a long flexible material extendingfrom one marker to another.

These and other objects and advantages of this description will bebecome apparent upon reading the following Detailed Description whentaken alone or in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the road marker in use position with asignal light arranged for assembly to the upper end of one of the panelsof the marker.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a light module structured in accord withthe present description.

FIG. 2A is a front elevational view of a light module structured inaccord with the present description.

FIG. 2B is a side elevational view of a light module structured inaccord with the present description.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the retainer of the present description.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a plurality of road markers in accordwith the present description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a road marker 10 is arranged in its upright, useposition standing on a ground surface. The marker 10 comprises twopanels 11 and 12 which are similar in construction. Panel 11 has acentral spine or column 13 that extends from the upper edge of the panelto a point about halfway towards the lower edge of the panel. Integrallyjoined to the column are oppositely extending side wing portions 14 and15. These side portions are arranged in parallel, but laterally offsetplanes. The road marker 10 is one example of many types of road markers,road barrels or traffic delineators the can be used with the presentdescription, such as barrels, saw-horse type markers, cones, etc. Thepresent description is not meant to be limited to any specific type ofroad marker.

The markers may be molded out of a plastic material which issufficiently durable for the intended purpose. Those skilled in themolding art would be able to select a suitable commercially availablematerial.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a light module or signal device 20 is securedto the road marker 10. The light module 20 includes signal producingmember, such as a reflector or a light member 22 and a housing 24 forsupporting the light member 22. In one embodiment, the housing 24 has anexterior surface 26 and defines an interior cavity for receiving a powersupply for the light member 22 if needed, such as a battery or aphotovoltaic cell. In an alternative embodiment, the housing can besolid and not define such a receiving space. Typically, the housing willbe injection or blow molded from a synthetic polymeric material, such aspolypropylene or polyethylene as examples.

As shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 3, the module 20 further includes aretainer 30 flexibly secured to the housing 24. The retainer 30 isdisposed vertically on the housing 24. However, the retainer 30 couldalso be disposed horizontally across the housing 24 as well. Theretainer 30 includes a connecting leg 32, a retaining leg 34 and aretaining barb 36. The retainer 30 moves from a first position in closeproximity to or actually in contact with the exterior surface 26 of thehousing 24 to a second position away from the exterior surface 26 of thehousing 24. When the retainer 30 is disposed in the second position, aflexible material can be placed between the retaining leg 34 of theretainer 30 and the exterior surface 26 of the housing 24. When theretainer 30 is in the first position, the flexible material is captivelyand releasably held between the exterior surface 26 of the housing 24and the retaining leg 34.

In the light module 20, the retainer 30 is formed from a syntheticpolymeric material such as polyethylene or polypropylene for example,and is integrally formed on the housing 24, such that the connecting leg32 forms a living hinge between the retaining leg 34 and an exteriorsurface 26 of the housing 24. The retaining leg 34 can be disposedvertically or horizontally across the housing 24.

In other embodiments, the housing 24 can include a plurality ofretainers disposed at predetermined positions around the perimeter ofthe housing, on both the top and base portions of the housing 24.Further, multiple retaining barbs could be formed on the retaining legof the retainers to further secure a flexible material between theexterior surface of the housing and the retaining leg.

In another aspect of the present invention, the description includes amethod of making a light module 20 for use on a delineator 10. Themethod includes the steps of forming a housing 24 for supporting thelight member 22, the housing 24 having a base portion and a top portion,the base portion and the top portion defining an open interior cavityand securing the light member 22 to the housing. The housing can bemolded from a synthetic polymeric material in any of a number of knowmolding processes. The method also includes the step of securing aretainer 30 on the top or base portion of the housing with the retainer30 having a connecting leg 32, a retaining leg 34 and a retaining barb36. The retainer 30 is formed in a molding process such that theconnecting leg 32 forms a living hinge between the retaining leg 32 andan exterior surface of the housing 24. In this manner, the retainer 30can move from a first position in close proximity to or in contact withthe exterior surface of the housing 24 to a second position away fromthe exterior surface of the housing. Alternatively, the retainer can bemolded separately from the housing 24 and later secured to the housingusing known fastening techniques.

The signal device 20 may be fastened to the marker 10 by means of asuitable fastener 43, such as a screw, inserted through a hole in themarker and a hole in the signal device casing 41. Thus, the signaldevice can be replaced whenever desired either to replace worn batteriesor to replace a damaged signal device. Other forms of signal devicescommonly used in highway road markers can be utilized for the samepurpose and mounted in the same way as indicated above.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modification wherein a plurality of spaced apartroad markers 10 a, b and c are provided with light housings 20 havingthe retainers 30 of the present description. A flexile material has beenstrung through each retainer to form a barrier which may be placedacross a road or other area to prevent entry into that area.

The foregoing should be read as a description of preferred, operativeembodiments of this invention and not in a strictly limiting sense. Thisinvention may be further developed within the scope of the followingclaims. Thus, having fully described an operative embodiment of thisinvention, I claim.

1. A signaling device module for use on a delineator for use on roadwaysor the like, comprising: a signal producing member; a housing forsupporting said signal producing member, the housing having an exteriorsurface and defining an interior cavity; a retainer secured to saidhousing, said retainer comprising a connecting leg and a retaining leg,said retainer being operative to move from a first position in closeproximity to the exterior surface of said housing to a second positionaway from said exterior surface of said housing; and wherein when saidretainer is disposed in said second position, a material can be placedbetween said retaining leg of said retainer and said exterior surface ofsaid housing and when said retainer is in said first position, thematerial is captively held between the exterior surface of said housingand said retaining leg.
 2. The module as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid retainer further includes a retaining barb configured to captivelyand releaseably engage the material in said retainer.
 3. The module asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the retainer is formed from a syntheticpolymeric material integrally formed on said housing, such that saidconnecting leg forms a living hinge between said retaining leg and anexterior surface of said housing.
 4. The module as claimed in claim 3,wherein the retainer is formed from a synthetic polymeric materialintegrally formed on said housing, such that said connecting leg ispreloaded toward said housing.
 5. The module as claimed in claim 3wherein the retaining leg is disposed vertically across the housing. 6.The module as claimed in claim 3 wherein the retaining leg includes aplurality of retaining barbs for engaging the material.
 7. The module asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said retainer is operative to cooperate withone or more other retainers on one or more other portable delineators toform a continuous physical border between the delineators when thematerial is disposed in said retainers.
 8. The module as claimed inclaim 1, further including a pair of retainers disposed on oppositesides of said housing.
 9. The module as claimed in claim 1, furtherincluding a plurality of retainers disposed at predetermined positionsaround the perimeter of said housing.
 10. The module as claimed in claim9, further including a fastener for securing said module to saiddelineator.
 11. A light module for use on a portable delineator for useon roadways or the like, comprising: a light member; a housing forsupporting said light member, the housing having an exterior surface anddefining an interior cavity for receiving a power supply for said lightmember; a retainer flexibly secured to said housing, said retainercomprising a connecting leg, a retaining leg and a retaining barb, saidretainer being operative to move from a first position in contact withthe exterior surface of said housing to a second position away from saidexterior surface of said housing; and wherein when said retainer isdisposed in said second position, a material can be placed between saidretaining leg of said retainer and said exterior surface of said housingand when said retainer is in said first position, the material iscaptively held between the exterior surface of said housing and saidretaining leg.
 12. The light module as claimed in claim 11, wherein theretainer is formed from a synthetic polymeric material is integrallyformed on said housing, such that said connecting leg forms a livinghinge between said retaining leg and an exterior surface of saidhousing.
 13. The light module as claimed in claim 11, wherein theretaining leg is disposed vertically across the housing.
 14. The lightmodule as claimed in claim 11 wherein the retaining leg includes aplurality of retaining barbs for engaging the material.
 15. The lightmodule as claimed in claim 11, wherein said retainer is operative tocooperate with one or more other retainers on one or more other portabledelineators to form a continuous physical border between the delineatorswhen the material is disposed in said retainers.
 16. The light module asclaimed in claim 11, further including a pair of retainers disposed onopposite sides of said housing.
 17. The light module as claimed in claim11, further including a plurality of retainers disposed at predeterminedpositions around the perimeter of said housing.
 18. A method of making alight module for use on a portable delineator for use on roadways or thelike, comprising the steps of: providing a light member; forming ahousing for supporting said light member, the housing having a baseportion and a top portion, said base portion and said top portiondefining an open interior cavity; securing the light member to thehousing; and securing a retainer on either of said top or said baseportion of said housing with said retainer having a connecting leg, aretaining leg and a retaining barb, wherein said connecting leg forms aliving hinge between said retaining leg and an exterior surface of saidhousing such that said retainer is operative to move from a firstposition in close proximity to or in contact with the exterior surfaceof said housing to a second position away from said exterior surface ofsaid housing.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of forming ahousing includes the step of molding the housing from a syntheticpolymeric material.
 20. The method of claim 19, further including thestep of molding a retainer integrally into the housing.